Her body was discovered on Aug. 28, 2000. Police believe Coulier killed her in a residence near the site where she was located, which is behind the home in the city of Hart where Douglas-Coulier and Coulier had shared for some time, prior to her death.

Authorities have testified they believe Coulier killed her in an acquaintance’s home and then dragged her body to the site behind the rental home nearby where she was found.

Authorities said he used a large garden shovel to dig her shallow grave, placing her face up, before tossing the dirt over top of her.

On Wednesday, jurors reviewed a handful of photographs taken of Douglas-Coulier’s body on the day it was discovered. Douglas-Coulier’s mother, Joanne Douglas of New Era, sat nervously near the jury box as family members asked if she was “OK” while the photos were shown. She nodded as the photos continued to be passed around.

Some photographs showed just a limb of Douglas-Coulier’s poking through the thin layer of black dirt. Other photos showed the white Nike tennis shoes that were found buried with her -- off her feet but placed between her legs.

At least one or two of those photos captured the attention of now-retired Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Mark Wieas, who worked the case as the lead investigator back in 2000.

Wieas explained to the jurors why the detail of the way the clothing hung on Douglas-Coulier’s body was important.

Her jeans appeared to be pulled down slightly around her hips. Her shirt, balled up under her arms, the photos showed.

“To me, the position of the clothing showed that the victim had been dragged to the burial site. Her pants are being pulled down as she’s being dragged,” Wieas said.

The same details were explained about the way her white T-shirt was pulled up under her armpits.

Medical examiner Dr. David Start had testified at the 2009 preliminary hearing that he couldn't determine the specific method of her death -- her body was too decomposed -- but he ruled it a homicide, based on the absence of any evidence of a drug overdose or disease and on the circumstances of her body's discovery.

Wieas went on to testify Wednesday that a series of arguments that turned into a physical assault by Coulier eventually led up to her death.

The couple had a tumultuous relationship from the get-go – they married in 1988 – and both partied hard, argued often and at times, according to police, Coulier was abusive toward Douglas-Coulier.

She had last been seen with her Coulier early the morning of July 30, the day after her 30th birthday. The couple was estranged but temporarily living together at the apartment of his sister and brother-in-law.

Wieas said that’s where he believes a heated argument between them began and likely the last time Douglas-Coulier was alive.

“It was determined that they were arguing. They got back to the apartment on Union Street. They were getting loud, and then at that point, statements (from Coulier) start to change,” Wieas said. “We haven’t had any credible evidence after that point that Joyce was ever alive again, and that was in the wee-morning hours after her birthday.”

Wieas said Coulier's statements in subsequent interviews Coulier gave to investigators in August after her body was found, and again in November of that same year, conflicted.

At the end of August, 2000, Coulier told investigators that they argued and Douglas-Coulier was told by the tenants to be quiet because she was being too loud as the argument escalated. He told police then that he eventually went to sleep on the floor of that apartment and when he woke, she was gone.

Wieas said in November 2000, Coulier was interviewed again. That time he told investigators that Douglas-Coulier arrived at the Union Street apartment after he did. She was there only five or 10 minutes before she left and then he fell asleep on the couch.